Island



No Model.) n 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. P. GRISWOLD.

. ELECTRO MAGNETIG STEERING AND REVERSING MEGHANISM EOE TORPEDQ BOATS.

No. 33%0'08. Patented eo. 22, 1885,.,

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. P. GRSWOLD. ELECTRO MAGNETIC STBEMNG AND REVBRSING MEGHAMSM FOR ToAPEDo BOATS. No. 333,008. Patented Deo. 22, 1885.

l NVENTUR I0 ra c @Taka/*alpi 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

H. P. GRISWOLD. ELEGTRO MAGNETIC)` STEERING AND REVERSING MEGHANISM FOR TORPEDO BOATS.

D T N E V. m

0.000 araented Dec.

HORACE l. GIUSXVYOLD, OF PROVIDCE, RHODE ISLAND.

ELECTRO-MAGNETIC STEERING AND REVERSINGMECHANISM FOR TORPEDOBOATS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,008, dated December 22, 1885A. I Application filed October 9.1., 19.*5. Serial No. 180,477. fn model.) v

"To all whom it may concern;

Be it known thatl, HORACE I.- GRIsWoLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certa-in new and useful Improvements in Electro- Magnetic Steering and Reversing Mechanism for Torpedooats, Src.; and l do hereby de'- clare the following t-o be a full, clear,` and exf act'deserip-tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled iu-the art to whit-Init appertains to make and use the same, reference y being had tothe accompanyingdrawings, and' to'letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My `present invention relatesparticularly to.

' 'a device for automatically steering torpedoboats, rams, &e., in any desired direction by means of electro-magnets, which connect with the steeringmechanism, thewhole being selfcontained within the boat aud independent'of control from the shore when in use.

. My invention consists of a continuouslyreY volving shaft having a screwworm secured thereto, one endet' which (the shaft) being mounted in an arm or bearing, which is adapted to 'be vibrated laterallyby means of a'n electric current passing through an electro-magnet, in combination with 'two toothed wheels or sectors, the angular movement of the latter being transmitted to an arm or tiller secured to the rudder-post,whereby the boat is steered right or left, according as the said worm en 'gages its corresponding toothed wheel, the worm beingdisengaged from both wheels when the boat is running in its true or steady COUPS@ e v It also consists of a delicate arm or finger adjustably secured to the compass needle and card, in combination' withnau insulated disk carrying two'mercury-cups and a pivot, upon Which-a forked two -arm lever is adapted to vibrate, a battery or other generator' of electricity, which connects said mercuryl cups, pivot, and electro-magnets, before referred to,

.whereby any variationof the boat from its course causes the said finger to tip or detlect the forked lever, so that the latter is made to making anelectric connection with the electro.`

magnets, andcausing the worm to swingjnto l contact with'one of the toothed wheels for the purpose ot' opexating;t11e rudder, the boat thereupon immediately answering the helm and resuming its course, the magnetic needle at the same time returning to its true or normal position, by means ot' which the finger is withdrawn from the mercury-cupand breaks .the electric circuit.

Theiuvention further consists ofan insulated 6o" disk secured toa vertically-supportedspindle, which is adapted to be revolved by means of frictional gearing, a revolving dial provided with one or more removable pins, which engage an eseapemeutlever, thehittcr in turn adapted to engage an escapement wheel secured to said spindle, the dial being connected, with the slowmoving gears of a clock-.trainer to a shaft driven by the propelling motor.-

By means ofl this latter combination the boat 7o is -enabled to be reversed in its course without reversing the engines-that is to say, the boat can' run ahead in its course any predetermined distance, say, five hundred yards, when, by

means of the action of theescapement and its mechanism, the compassleard, die., is revolved one hundred and eighty degrees, thus bringing the mercury-cups aft of the spindle.` The boat then turns one hundred and eighty def greesand runs in the opposite course, say, one 83 y hundred yards, The moving parts are again reversed,whieh brings the mercury-cups, Sac., forward of the spindle to their lnormal'position'. The boat, now'respondingto the helm,

again turns one hundred and eighty degrees -85 and runs one hundred yards, more or less, in itsoriginal course, as predetermined by the relative arrangement of the pins in the revolv. iugdial, after which another half-revolution of the spindle, Aas before described, causes the go boat to finally turn and run in the opposite course again unti1 the shore is reached, unless it meets withan obstruction.

The invention finally consists in combining ywith theabovementioned dial carryingwpins adapted to engage an 1eseapement-lever, &c., another removable pin mounted-iu said dial, whiehengages with `certain locking mechan ism at a predetermined point in the boats plodes the torpedo carried within the vessel.

course, whereby a ypin or key is automatically rco inserted into the firing pin or arm, which exl a port course.. Fig. 12 represents the screwarmature therefor, havingthe revolving wormforward or aft of the spindle.-

, invention. Fig-. Q isa horizontal sectional plan tical,sectionaVview ot' the compass card, neefrom, said worm, &c., beingin the normal po- By means of this latter device a person may l handle the boat upon its arrival inshore with eompalativc immunity from danger, all as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying three vsheets of drawings, which l have ypreluiredto illustrate my improvements, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a longitudinal central sectional view ota submarine torpedo boat, showing the relative arf rangement of tlieseveral parts comprising the view ot' the saine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged verdie, tte. Fig. 4 is a plan view of thc'same, the boats course being due north and steady Fig. 5 is a similar plan view showing the p0- sition of the needle, e., reversed, the same corresponding to a south course. Fig. 6 is a front view in elevation of the insulated disk having niercury-cups therein, and also the forked lever, the arm's ol' whicharein the normal or non-contact position. Fig. 7 is asilni2 lar view showing a portion of the disk and one of its cups in central section, the forked lever being tipped laterally by means of the 'compass-needle, thereby causing one arm of the lever to engage an open mercury-cup and Vclosing the electric circuit. Fig. VS is a detached sectional view showinga toothed wheel frictionally mounted on it'sdrivingsliaft. Fig. it, Sheet 2, is a plan view of the compass-card, &e., showing the partsadj usted to run theboat in a northeast course. Fig. 1()l is a detached view, enlarged, showing the screw-worm in contact with the starboard toothed wheel, by means of which the rudder is carried to starboard, thus causing the boats head to diverge from its course toward theright. Fig. 11 is a similar view, the worm, however, being in contact with the portI wheel, correspondingto worin in its normal position, disengaged from both wheels, the rudder then standing foreand-aftl or steady. Fig. 18 is a vertical central sectional view corresponding to the. preceding figure. Fig. Mis a detached view, enlarged, showing the electro-magnets andthe shaft mounted in an arm depending theresition indicated by the two preceding figures. Figure 15 is asimilar view showing the worm swung into engagement with the port wheel by means of the electric current passing through the magnets. Fig. 16 is a plan View (reduced) of a stationary disk or plate, the same being insulated, and provided with electrically-connected plugs so arranged that the mercury-cups and pivot of `the movable insnlated disk coincide and connect therewith in either position, whether the cups stand Fig. 17 is a central sectional view ofthe same, showing a portion of the movable disk, one of the niercury-cups thereof being in contact with one of the said electrically-connected plugs. Fig. 18

is a 1educedplau view of` the boat, showing the arrangement ofthe conductingwires which form the electric circuit, the mercury-cups lbeing forward of the spindle, and the boat sailing in (say) a north course. Fig. 19 is a similar view, the movable disk, however, having been revolved one hundred andeighty degrees on its axis, thereby bringing the mercury-eups aft of the spindle, and causing thel boat to turn and run in.au opposite or south course. Fig. 20, Sheet 3, is an enlarged View showing the revolving dial provided with pins adapted to engage a lever (shown broken) by means of which the course of-the boat is reversed, said view also showing the safety or locking device, the lever therefor being retained in its normal position by aspring-catch. "hile in this position the torpedo is adapted to -be exploded. Fig. 2l is a similar View, except that the dial has Ybeen turned on its axis about three-fourths of a revolutiomwhich movement reversed the course of the boat three times, and iinally withdrew the safetylever from its spring-catch, therebyy forcing the pin down into the opening. formed in the exploding-.rod and locking it (the rod) in the safety position. Figj22 is a plan view of the parts represented in Fig. 20. Fig. 23 is a detached view of the vspring-catch with the lever -retained therein; and Fig. 24 represents, ap-

proximately, the course of theboa-t after leaving the shore until its return thereto, and corresponding to the relativevarrangement ofthe pins, &c. (Shown in Figs. 20, 21, and 22.)

vThe following is a more detailed description of the improvements hereinafter claimed. I would'state, however, in passing, that heretofore, so far as I am aware, the movements of this class of torpedofboats, rams, Src., have been controlled through the agency of electricity by the manipulations of an operator stationed on shore, the electric current passing through one or more cables, which connect the boat with the battery, &e. on shore, such control, even at the best, being unsatisfactory. By means of the present improvements I design to practically overcome most of the objections urged against the former systems. To this end A, again referring to the drawings, designates the boatas a whole, the form and construction of its hull, as well as of the materials composing it, being as common to boats of this type wherein the torpedo or other explosive is carried wit-hin the boat, such boatsv in Service being wholly or partially submerged,

as may be desired, the object being, mainly, of course, to destroyan enemys vessel by contact therewith, thus causing the ,explosion of the torpedo and consequent loss of said vessel, although practically demolishing the torpedoboat itself. 1

As before stated, A indicates the boat, pro- Yvided with a rudder, F, and Vpropeller G, the

latter being secured to' a shaft, C, which isy driven by means of thegniotor or engine B, acting through the gears b b', steam, com- IOOl rio

irs

pressed air, or other suitable gas `orvapor.\A

being supplied to said engine under from the charged tank or reservoir-B', as conn mon, and to which I make no claim. Electricity also may be successfully employed to propel the boat through the water. v

D indicates a continuously-revolving shaft connected by a universal joint, d, to the engine-shaft, as drawn, although any other suitably drivenand mounted shaft may be used. Secured to the rear or after portion Aof the shaft' is a screw-worm, H, said shaft being journaled in an'arm, c', depending from a'rod, E, mounted in bearings e c, Figs. l, 2,

K K designate' a pair of electro-magnets, having the shaft D passing freely between them, the armature VK' of the magnets being also secured to thev rod E, before described.

i f', all as-fully shown.

Y being connected therewith. 40p c,

ff are suitably-mounted vertical shafts,. between which the shaft D also passes. To the lower end of each shaft 'f is secured al wheel, H', having teeth h extending about ninety degrees aroundits peripcry, said wheels being so placed that the worm H will not intergear with either in its normal-position. To the upper end of each shaft f* is secured an arm,'f, which in turn connects withthe lever or tillerf by means of a link,

It is obvious that as the armature' K isvibrated ordeflected by means of the electric current toward port or starboard, so also will the end of the shaft'D be moved laterally, and the worm H be made to engageits corresponding wheel, H', thereby causing the rudder to move and change the direction of the boatin its course. The shaft C, as drawn, extends forward, and has asmall bevel-toothed wheel, a, loosely mounted thereon, a spring, and adjusting means a also S indicates a vertical spindle mounted in suitable bearings, n, at the forward end of the boat. Said spindle has a Vbevelgear,a, se cured thereto adapted to intergear with the wheel a. A two-pin "escapement-wheel, W, is also secured to the spindle S, the latter wheel engagingthe escapemcnt-lever m, pivoted at m'l to the standard ai, the construction and operation of this'escapement being as common, and to which I make nospeeitic claim. i

Upon the shaft C, aft of the gear a, is se cured a worm, J, which engages or operates a dial, 1%,secured to the axle o', the latterl heing suitably mounted. Near the outer edge of said dial 1s', drilled a circulaily-arranged series of holes, u, adapted to receivepins u', &c., Sheet 3, by means of y which the latter engage the rear end of `the escapeinen't-lever torelease the ivheel V", and permitting the.

"upper bearing, v.

spindle to revolve one hundred'aud eighty fdegrees on itsaxis.

l do not restrict myself to the use of the dial 'and worm as shown, as the leseapement lmay be effected by the employment of a slowmoving clocktrain having a perforated dial adapted to "carrysaid pins u, 87e., and operm1,: lthe pressureprv tension' of.

pressure the spring a2 against the wheel a being `such that as long as a. pin, w', of the wheel W' bears against a piu, wl, of the lever, the spindle is prevented from turning on its axis, the shaft c then freely revolving in the wheel n.,- but as soon as the pin w is released bythe movement of the lever m, then said spring overbalances the friction of the spindle and its connections, andcauses tli'e wheel a to drive the spindle around one hundred and eighty-degrees, after which ittthe spindle) remains stationary until again released, as before. i

An important improvement intimately connected with this mechanism consists in drillinganother series ofcircularly-arranged holes, y, in the dial R, said holesVhowever, being located nearer the hub,aud adapted to receive a pin, y. thelatter in turn engaging the free spring clip orholder, Z, by means of which the lever is adapted to be automatically withdrawn from said holder for purposes about to beidescribed.

V indicates a rod suitably mounted in the 'boat and projecting through the hull in front,

the rear portion ot' the rod passing through supports c, and having its end adapted to explode the cap t of a torpedo, T, a spring, .82,

bearing against a collar, si, of said rod serving to force the latter forward against the bearing c. A hole, d', is now drilled down into the bearing and through the rod. A pin, d", is secured to and extends downwardly from the lever c', before described, for thepurpose of passing into said hole dcand thus lock all the roo parts together, thereby preventing the rodV V from moving rearwardly to explode the torpedo, all as fully shown in Sheet 3. To the top ot' the spindle S is pivoted thev magnetic 'eompassheedle a, which is secured to a com- A delicate finger, o,v

ypass-card, N, as usual` is ad j ustabl y secured to and projecting beyond the needle 11, as shown in Fig. 3, &c.

L indicates a diskvniade of suitable insulating material, the same bei'ngvsecured to the spindle S,and Aprovided near its edge with the metallic cup or plug h2, the latter having the small slotted two-arm lever [pivot-ed thereto at 2"", the sloti being adapted to receive the'outer or freeend of the tinger'o, before described.

Extending from and atright angles to the slotted portion of the lever I'are the oppositely-formed arms fi, the outer ends thereof being bent downwardly to enter the open end of the metallic cups hh, which are secured'one on each side of the center cup, lai, to said disk L, as fully shown in Sheet 1..

M designates an insulated'disk, the latter, however, being stationary and secured to the Said disk is provided Withtwo metallic plugs, g2, which arejarranged in line fore'and-aft. Arranged 'oneither side of these plugs are secured to the disk four additional plugs, g, as fully shown in Fig.` 16, y

both sets of plugs being so, placed and secured to the disk thatthe cups h2 h o t the disk L, before described, stand directly over the for- IoI port electro-magnet.

ward set of plugs, g2 g, if the boat be running l l.' Now, iu case the boat varies a little from in its forward course, or oyer the opposite or after set of plugs when the disk L is reversed in4 position for the purpose of reversing the vboats direction.

The electric connections are ,as follows: Z designates a battery or other generator o f electricity,secured.on board the boat, from which extend wires, Fig. 18, connecting said plugs glg and electro-magnets K, the wires being` `numbered as indicated therein.

l is the wire which connects the battery and the lforward plug q2 together.V V2' is'i'the wire connecting the battery and the after plug g2. 3 is a wire which connects the forward starboard plug g and the port electro-magnet, 4 being a wire connecting the forward port plug g and the starboard electro-magnet. 5 is a wire adapted to connect the' after starboard plug g with the wire 4. leading to the starboard electromagnet. 6 is a similar wire connecting the. after port plug with'thefwire 3, leading to the 7 is a short wire con neet-ing both the port and starboard electro-v magnets K K, and 8 is a return-wire connecting said magnets vand battery Z to complete the electric circuit.

` The manner of adjusting and setting the several parts hereinbefore described, for the purpose oflrunning the torpedo-boat may be stated ysubstantially as follows; The course of the boat is'tirst decided upon, which, say,will be to run it one thousand yards north, then reverse vand run south five hundred yards, againA reverse and runfve hundred yards north, and finally, Areverse and, run south fivehunv*dred yards, when, if no obstruction is presented to the projecting rod V, `the Asafetycatch d2 will then be forced down to lock the rod in position, the boat meanwhile continuing -in its southern course about five hundred yards more until the shore is again reached, substantiallyas indicated in the diagram shown in Fig. 24. -The pins u u2 ua are now inserted in holes u of the dialR, Fig. 20, the distance between the centers of said holes corresponding,

.,"say, to a run of live hundred yards at a ceri tain speed of the propeller. The pin yis then linserted in` an opening, y, for the purpose of klocking the torpedo-rod at the vproper time. (See also Fig20.) The finger -o is then secured in place directly over and in line with the needle .l n, (for a northcourse,) substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the mercury-cups and pivot .started on itsinorthern course, uthe shafts reof the disk Lbeing forward of the spindle. The tank or reservoir B is now charged. with steam, compressed air, gas, or` other suitable vapors under high pressure. -The safety or locking lever c is' swungup into engagement with the spring-holder Z, thereby permitting sistanee'of the'sprin'g 8%' .The steam is now admittedinto the cylindersB, and the .boat

. volvingiu the arrow-directionshown in Fig.

ygrees around its circumference, as shown. obvious that as the rudder reaches its extreme its course, say, toward the east, the magnetic needle n .will of course seek to point due north, and, consequently, movetoward the vleft or port, which movement, by means of the finger o secured thereto, detlects the pivoted forked lever I and causes the lower end of its left arm, i', to come in contact with the mercury h', contained in the corresponding cup, h, Fig. 7, thereby forming an electric circuit which includes the electro-magnets K K. The electric current now passes along the wire 4 (through t-her'mediumY of thecup h, its spring connection p, and the corresponding plug g,

-Figs. 16 and 17) to the starboard electro-magnet K, thereby charging the latter, .and causing the armature Kto vibrate and engage therewith, which movement at the same time carries the revolving worm H into gear with the port-wheel H', Figs. ll and 15, thereby driving the latter in the arrow-direction and swinging the rudder F to port. The boat` answering the helm, soon resumes its normal or steady course. This latter movement of the boat causes the arm ii. to leave the mercury, Fig. 6, thus breaking the electric circuit, the armature, Snc., then being in the position shown in Figs. 12, 13, and 14, the saine corresponding to the steady course.

Any deflection of the boat to the west or port will result in connecting the arm i with the wire 3,'leading from the starboard plug g to the port electro-magnet, thus making the circuit and causing the armature to vibrate to the port side and swing the worm H into gear with the starboard wheel, H', and the consequent movement of the rudder to starboard, all as before stated, except that the operation is reversed. Now, as the boat reaches the end of its irstior one thousand yards course 'the pin u engages the escapement-lever m, thereby releas-v ing the pin 102 and permitting the spindle S to be turned one-halfof a revolution, the lever with its pin 'a02 meantime returning to prevent the wheel W from further axial movement, the disk L, 82e., then being in the position represented in Fig. 5, wherein the cups 'h h2 and needles n o are aft of the spindle and Apointing south. By means of this reversal of position (see, also,Fi g. 19) andthe persistent tendency ofthe magnetic needle fn. to point toward the north, the electric.

circuit is again formed and the armature electrically connected with vone of the electro-magnets K, thus bringing the-worml into gear and causing the rudder to move to its extreme port or starboard position', the same being about forty-five degrees from the steady line. The teeth hs of the wheels H extend about ninety de- Itis of the rim and preventing further movement thereof.' As the boat turns` at in its course and graduallyassumes a straight'southernA course, the needle n then is pointing due north ICS IIO

IIS

or astern. t Any variation of the boat will now cause the arms i to deflect right or left into the mercury-cups, thereby again turning the rudder in the proper direction by means of the electric circuit, to head the boat in its true course, as before described. After running south ve hundred yards the pi n u2 releases the escapement mechanism, thereby turning the spindle another halffrevolution, which move- 1o ment places the cups and needles forward of the spindle, the boat gradually turning in its courseat x, as j ust described, and again runs north, when, after sailing five hundred yards in this direction the continuously-revolving r 5 dial Remises the pin u to release the escapement mechanism and again revolve the spin-l dle and its attachments one-half turn, the needle, &c., then pointing astern or south. As before stated, themagnetic needle n bears 2o toward the north, thereby keeping the electric circuit closed until the boat passes the center c" Y and heads due south, at which time the needle will point due north or astern. The boat now continues in its south course' about five hun dred yards, when the' pin y', mounted at the back of the dial R, engages the free end c4 of the suspended lever c'and forces it from the spring-holder l, thereby inserting the pin P of the lever down into the opening d of the 3o torpedorod V and its bearing c, (see Fig. 21,) and preventing endwisenlovenient of said rod to explode the torpedo. v V'lhislatter operat-ionoccurs at the point y in the diagram. The

boat stilll continues on its-course about" five hundred yards until the'shore is again reached,

as fully shown. ,l

It is obvious that themechanism may be ,readily set and adjusted to run the boat `in other directions and for-longer or shorter 4o courses, as'desired, l

It is evident that by means of this invention` the engines Aor other propelling motor always runs in the same directioinandis not reversed,

an opposite or dierent coursefor the-boat being effected by means of the reversal of the iingerladjustably secured thereto lengaging a lever adapted to electrically connect me Gotallic cups or 'plugs secured to an insulated disk rigidly mountedon a spindle adapted-to be intermittently revolved, and the automat ically-operated safety or locking device for the torpedo,'are both new and usefull `6= What I do elaini and desire to secure by V United States Letters Patent, is-' l1. In "a boat of the character hereinbefore described, the combination, with the rudder,

ot' a shaft having a screw-worm secured thercto, mechanism for revolving the saine, a jour- 7o naled rod having an arm adapted to support the free end of said shaft, two worm-wheels suitably mounted, having the worm arranged to freely revolve between and independently of said wheels, and levers or other substantially equivalentmeans which connect each wheel` with the rudder, the whole arranged whereby the journaled rod is adapted to vibrate and cause the revolving worm to engage either wheel, the angular movement of the latter being transmitted to the rudder, substantially as shown, and for the purpose setv fort-h. l

2. The combination, with a rudder -conneeted with a worm-wheel mounted on each side of the center of the vessel, a worm secured to a jointed shaft intermediate of said wheels, and mechanism for revolving the shaft, of a loosely-mounted rod provided with an arm havingy the free end'of the wormshaft journaled therein and a pair of electro-niagnets having the armature thereof secured to said rod, theswhole combined and arranged whereby the worm is disengaged from both wheels when the magnets aredemagnetized, and engaging either wheel, according as the armature is attracted and vibrated toward either magnet by means of an electric current passing through it, substantially as shown and hereinbefore set forth.

3. In a boat of the class described, the combination, with the rudder, eonnections,wormwheels, and electro-magnets having the armature thereof secured to a rod which carries the revolving shaft land worm, substantially as shown, of a compass needle and card, mounted as usual, a finger adjustably secured to the needle, a lpivoted two-arm leveradapted to receive the freeend of said finger; two mercury or contact cups secured below the lever, adapted to each to receive an arm thereof, and suitable conducting-wires connecting said cups, lever, and eleetro-magnetswt-h a battery or other suitable source of electricity to produee'a circuit, the whole arrangedv on board the vessel, whereby any material ,variation of the boat from al straight course-is immediately counteracted 'by the magnetic nee die, which latter causes the corresponding arm of the pivoted lever to engage its correspond-` 12o ing mercury-cup, thereby closing the electric eircu'it and instantly detiecting said armature, thus swinging the worm into-gear with one of the wheels and moving the rudder, substan tiall y as shown and set fort-h.

4. In about of the class herein described, having a suitable electric battery and'propelling mechanism, the combination, with the .electrically-connected steering device, compass needle, card, and adj ustably-secured tinger, of a suitably-mounted spindle adapted to be intermittently revolved one hundred and eighty degrees, mechanism, -substantially as shownand described, for effecting the same, a

'I IO set of three electrically-connected stationary having an opening formed therein, of the pivmetallic plugs secured forward ofthe spindle,

tained and independent of control from the shore'.

5. The combination, with the "suitablymounted ring-pin 0r torpedo-exploding rod oted suspended lever haiing a pin secured thereto and a revolving dial provided .with a pin adapted to engagesaid lever, whereby the latter is released and its'pin made to enter the said opening, thus loekng'the rod in position and preventing itfrom exploding the torpedo,

substantially as shown and set forth.

6. In a compass, the combination, with the l insulated disk secured to a spindle adapted to be automatically revolved, provided with two electrically-connected mercurycups and an electrically-connected pivot, on which a forked 'two-arm lever `is adapted to vibrate, of a magnetic needle `and its compass-card, mounted as common, vhaving a -delicate/linger adjustably secured t'o the to'p of the needle, the free end of the ngerextending beyond the needle and engaging the forked or slotted portion of the two-arm lever pivoted to said insulated disk,

substantially asl shown, and for the purpose set forth.

- 7.- Theimprovedantomatic electro-magnetic E y' steering and reversing apparatus hereinbefore described, the same consisting of the electromagncts K K, having the armature K thereof secured to a freely-mounted rod, from which depends an arm,e in whicha revolving jointed shaft, D, carrying the worm H, is journale'd, toothed wheels H', mounted each on a shaft, f, yfrom which extends an arm, f, that conneets with the tillerf of the rudder, a suitably-mounted spindle, S, adapted to be reyolved by means of the gear a, frictionally mounted on a revolving shaft, c, and a gear, a', secured to said spindle, an escapementlever, m, operated by means of one or more pins,

u u u, carried by a revolving dial, which releases the wheel WV, secured tothe spindle S, an insulated stationary disk, M, having the two sets of electrically-connected plugs gg.2 secured thereto, the insulated disk L, provided with the two mercury-cups h, and pivot h', secured to said spindle, a slotted two-arm lever, I, mounted in the pivot h?, acompasscard, N, magnetic needle n, and finger o, adjustably'secureld to the needle and surmonnt-4 ing thes'pindle, abattcry, Z, or other generator ofelectricty,'and\the electricconducting-wires -connecting the several plugs g g, cups 'h h, pivot h", electro-magnets K K, and battery Z,

to 'form the circuit, the whole combined, ar-

ranged, and adapted for use substantially as shown and set forth. l' yIn testimony whereof I have aixedmy sig nature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE P. GRISWOLD.

, Witnesses.: CHARLES HANNIGAN. v GEO. H. REMINGTON. 

